It was only Sunday for staff at ShopRite in Brodheadsville, but it was time to make the doughnuts.

“It is a thing that we have done traditionally each year for Doughnut Day,” said bakery manager Kathy Lockwitch, who has been at the store for 35 years. “People look forward to it.”

Doughnut Day, also known as Fasnacht Day, is a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition observed the day before the Lenten season begins. German Christians made doughnuts with the lard, sugar, fat and butter that were forbidden during Lent, and therefore, Doughnut Day has been observed as one to indulge on sugary and rich foods. Many use potatoes in the dough.

“It is a day to splurge,” Lockwitch said.

And to make that happen, ShopRite is preparing 7,000 - yes, 7,000 - doughnuts.

“It takes the whole team to be involved - all 35 associates in our bakery department,” Lockwitch said.

Preparation begins Sunday, when staff places dough on large screens so that it can rise.

“Today we are getting together the sugar, the powdered sugar, the glaze and all the other things ready,” she said Monday morning. “Tonight around 5 o’clock, we will begin frying the doughnuts 20 at a time. It is a very long and tedious process. It is very hot. We’re using 380 degree oil.”

Employees worked on batch after batch through the night.

“We will just keep making them. We’ll then work all through the day. It is a non-stop thing,” Lockwitch said.

When the doughnuts cool, they’ll be sprinkled with powdered or regular sugar, or topped with icing or glaze. From there, they will be boxed or moved to the bakery’s display case.

“When they first come out of the fryer, they are nice and warm and squishy,” Lockwitch said.

Bakery staffers will enjoy a doughnut to celebrate a job well done. And the store owner has traditionally provided each department with boxes of the treats.

“It is something our team looks forward to. It is a special event and everybody is proud of getting them done and watching people enjoy them,” Lockwitch said. “It is a long day but the customers absolutely love them so all the hard work is well worth it.”

Ateira’s on First in Lehighton is debuting its doughnuts today.

Co-owner Missy Arieta said the catering business will prepare traditional Pennsylvania Dutch doughnuts.

“They’re using ‘for real’ potatoes for the fasnachts,” Arieta said of the recipe that calls for spuds mixed with yeast and other ingredients.

As of Monday afternoon, Alteira’s had logged orders for 110 dozen.

Arieta said Ateira’s baker, Sarah Schweitzer, had been perfecting her recipe all weekend.

Staff begin preparing the doughnuts just after midnight on Tuesday.

“We have awesome employees who will be working all day,” Arieta said.

Ashley Flower, a spokeswoman for The Giant Company, said Giant Food Stores - including one in Lehighton - will have plenty of doughnuts available.

“We’re selling glazed, plain, powdered sugar, and sugar varieties,” she said.